The Great Canadian Dessert Search, Edition No. 2

VANCOUVER — How can you make custard with a burnt sugar top even better? Add an ounce of liquor, in the form of Crème de Cacao and Bailey’s, and you will find yourself with more than a few repeat visitors.

That’s what’s happened with the dessert shooter at Glowbal, a Yaletown spot that’s known for celebrity patrons (it’s reputedly “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson’s favourite restaurant in town) and dependable food. Residents in Vancouver’s hip neighbourhood drop into Glowbal for Sunday brunch and weekend dinners, with the seafood choices changing often and usually being the highlight of the entrée selections. One of restaurant’s signature offerings, though, has nothing to do with what comes on a plate. It’s the restaurant’s signature Crème Brûlée Shooter, which I first tried in 2005 and have kept coming back for since.

The drink is usually served from Thursdays to Saturdays, with the kitchen preparing the custard and the bar staff the shot of liquor. Each serving of custard is placed on top of the liquor in a two-ounce glass. Once prepared, the glasses are slid into a refrigerator until Vancouverites come asking.

When served, diners are given a dessert spoon to crack the burnt sugar and to swirl the custard around in the liquor before throwing it back. It’s absolutely marvellous, a ticklish and decadent sensation for the mouth.

“We have people who come in here just for these,” bartender Sasha told me when I last stopped in. He said about 10-20 of the Crème Brûlée Shooters are sold a night on the weekends. They go for $8, not a bad price. But be warned that you’ll find it hard to have just one.

DIRECTIONS:Glowbal is at 1079 Mainland Street, about two blocks north of the Yaletown station on the Canada Line. Reservations are recommended for the weekends. Telephone: 604-602-0835.

THE GREAT CANADIAN DESSERT SEARCH is a compilation of the absolute best sweet treats in the nation. If you’ve got a dessert you’d like to nominate, let Vacay.ca Editors know — or write about it yourself and send in photos (if you have them) and you will be eligible to win a prize in one of our contests.

About the Author

Adrian Brijbassi

Adrian is the editor of Vacay.ca and his articles are frequently syndicated by the Huffington Post and appear in the Globe & Mail. He makes regular appearances on CTV News, TSN Radio and CJSF Radio, talking about travel, sports, creative writing and journalism. A former editor at the Toronto Star and New York Newsday, Adrian has won numerous awards for his travel writing and fiction, and has visited more than 30 countries. He is also a judge for the World’s 50 Best Restaurants and spearheaded the Vacay.ca Top 50 Restaurants in Canada list that debuted in April 2012.